Light-projecting apparatus.



G. S. COLEMAN. LIGHT PROJEGTING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 8. 1914.

1,133,103. Patented Mar.23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTG-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D4 Cv G. S. COLEMAN. LIGHT PROJEGTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8. 1914.

1;]; 33,103, I Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 sums-sum: 2,

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1'12 NORRIS PETERS CU.. PHOTOi/THQ, WASHINGTON. 0. C

GECRGE S. COLEMAN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT COLUMBIA.

LIGHT-PBOJECTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 23, 1915;

Application filed January 8, 1914. Serial No. 811,076.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at IVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Light-Projecting Apparatus, of which the following is [a specification.

My invention relates to light-projecting apparatus and it relates more particularly to means designed to be used in conjunction with a base-ball score-board for the purpose of indicating a ball as being batted or thrown from one point on the field to another, z'. e. as being batted by a batsman to a point on the field or to a fielder or as being thrown by one fielder to another.

Among. the objects inview is to provide an apparatus of the character described which will be of extremely simple and inexpensive construction, and adapted to be readily and accurately operated to indicate a ball as being batted or thrown in any desired direction. r

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan V ew of the apparatus arranged in con unct1on with a base-ball score-board. Fig. 9. is a side elevation of the parts seen in Fig 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view partly in elevation. Fig. 4. is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the light container and projector. Fig. l is a transverse section on line 1-4 of Fig. 4:- Fig. 5 is an elevation of the reflector and its support. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the indicating chart or diagram on an enlarged scale. Flg. 7 is a detail sectional view showing a modification.

In my Letters Patent, No. 1,069,920, dated August 12, 1913, I have disclosed a baseball score-board embodying means for indicating a base-ball as being batted or thrown in various directions, such means comprising slots provided in the board and extending in various directions and an lllumlnant adapted to be moved along the slots .whereby the light from such illuminant by showing through the slots will indicate a ball as being batted or thrown across the field.

The ball-indicating means disclosed in my said patent involves a construction which necessarily considerably increases the cost of production, and besides this it is impossible to quickly and at the same time accurately manipulate the illuminating means within the slots, the manipulation of 'such illuminating means interfering at times with the proper manipulation :of the illuminant used for indicating the players in action owing to the fact thatsome of the- Also,

and this interferes greatly with the persons who are manipulating the player-indicating means. Aside from the stated disadvane tages the number of slots in the board for 7 indicating the various directions taken by a battedor thrown ball is necessarily somewhat limited. It is practically impossible to obtain free and accurate working of the ball-indicating means with the construction disclosed in my said patent, and the ball-indicatingmeans which I will now describe in detail avoids all the stated disadvantages of the patented construction and'enablesa free and accurate manipulation of the ball-V indicating means to be obtained without any interference whatever with the ma-' nipulation of the player-indicating means, and it is also possible to indicate a ball as moving in any direction desired.

While it is my intention, primarily, to use my apparatus hereinafter described in conjunction with a base-ball score-board,

and particularly a board embodying certain of the features disclosed in my aforesaid patent, yet my apparatus is adapted to be used independently of a base-ball scoreboard and therefore I do not wish to be restricted to its use in such connection.

I will describe first the construction of apparatus whichis illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, .7

and in carrying out my invention I provide a light reflector 1 constructed in any suitable manner, as for instance by providing a disk-shaped. support or holder 2 made of wood or other material within which is cenj trally'arranged the reflecting surface proper 3, which may be of silvered glass or highly polished metal. The surface 3 may be square, as shown,"or of any other desired outline and suitably held in its support 2,

which lattermay have. any desired outline other than circular, if desired. At diametrically opposite points the reflector l is pivotally connected by pivot pins or studs 4 to a ring 6, which latter at diametrically-opposite points at right angles to the pivotal.

points of the reflector has a pivotal connection by pivot pins or studs 7 with a suitable supporting stand 8 which comprises a semicircular member 9, the outer ends of the arms of which carry the said pivot pins 7. By the described arrangement the reflector 1 may be turned upon itspivots 4 to cause said reflector to occupy various planes and reflect light to'the right or left upona re ceiving surface, and the ring 6 may be turned upon its pivots 7 to cause the reflector to swing so as to reflect light up. or down upon said receiving surface. In effect the parts arranged. as described constitute a gimbal whereby to permit, thereflector to be swung into a greater variety of positions to therebyreflect light to any desired point on the receiving surface. The light to be projected onto the reflector and reflected thereby may be produced from any desired sourceand-I do not Wish to berestricted to any specific character of light producing means. As an illustration of usedI show a light-containing casing or tube 10 within which is arranged preferably an incandescent electric lamp 11, in front of which is arranged a diaphragm 12 having a minute aperture 13. The light-containing tube which also constitutes a light-projector is to be arranged in such-position relatively to the reflectorthatlight passing through the aperture 13'will be reflecting surface Sat a point centrally, or substantially so, of the latter in the form of a small point of light. The light tube 1 1': is preferably journaled at 15 upon a suitable support 16, whereby the angle of projection may be varied when setting up the apparatus for use to get the tion of the projector and reflector. Suitable means may be provided for temporarily exposing and screening the light projected by the tube, as for instancea swinging shut-, ter 1? "arranged in front of the apertured diaphragm.v lVhen the shutter lies across the.

aperture it will. effectually screen the light and prevent it from being projected onto the reflector, and when the shutter uncovers said aperture it will expose the light. Pref erably, the shutter lies normally in position across the aperture and suitable means. are providedfor operating the shutter to cause it tocover and uncover the aperture, as for instance a cord or wire 18 attached at one end to the shutter and passing around a pulley lSl'and attached at the opposite end to one arm 20 of a pivoted lever 21. whose other arm 22 adapted to be operated by the foot of the operator. By pressing downwardly .from the latter-will what might be,

projected upon the.

in game; for instance,

proper relative posiupon: arm 22 the shutter will be moved to uncover the aperture and permit the light to be projected onto the reflecting surface, and when the arm 22 is released the shutter will be actuated by a spring 23 and moved into position across the aperture, thus screening the light. The point of light projected onto the reflecting surface 3 may be reflected therefrom onto any desired receiving surface, as a screen, etc., arranged in suitable position to receive suchpoint of light.

As before stated,Iiintend primarily to use my present apparatus in conjunction with a base-hall score-board, preferably such as is illustrated in mybefore-mentioned patent embodying the-v representations of various players in differentv playing positions, and I indicate in the accompanying drawings a score-board 25, which board, while it is not deemed necessary to. illustrate in detail in the present instance, will be; provided with representations of the players in their playing positions, and said'board is to be arranged at, a suitable and proper distance from the reflector so that the light reflected be received upon the face of the board and indicate a base-ball as movingfrom one point onthe field to an otherpoint, i. e. as being batted to some point on the field or as being thrown from one player to another. The score-board is to be suitably supported in a position which will not interfere with the working of the apparatus.

In practice the parts will be relatively so arranged that the apparatus maybe made to indicate on the score-board themovement of the ball in different directions correspond ing to the movements of the ball in, areguin oneposition of the reflectorthe point of light will be re flected onto the board at the point approximately Where ,therepresentation of the pitcher is located so as to indicate that the latter has the ball and is about to pitch it,- and when the reflector is being moved into another position;it .will cause the point of light to move across the board from the representation of the pitcher to the representation of the catcher, thus indicatingthat the ball is beingpitched from one to the other. Or by properly manipulating the reflector it will cause the point of light while moving point of light may be made to move from the representation of any one player to any other player to indicate that the ball is being thrown. Inthe samemanner the results ob" tained by changing the position of the reflector may be .made .to indicate the travel of the ball in many diflerent directions cor.- responding to the directions taken in an ac tually played game. 1

For operating the reflector any suitable means may be provided, and I have shown, for instance, in the drawings, operating means which I will now describe in detail.

31 indicates a disk-shaped member of wood or other suitable material, rigidly mounted upon a rod 32 which is seated loosely and adaptedto turn in a ring 33 and at its upper end it is pivoted at 3st to one end of a lever 35, whose other end carries a pointer 36 which is adapted to play over a diagram 37, presently described, supported upon a table 38 orother suitable support. The ring 33 is pivotedly connected by pivot pins or studs 39 with the arms of a suitable support etO. By the described construction the member 31 is adapted to be turned in different planes when the rod 32 is turned on its longitudinal axis in its bearings in the ring, and said ring may beturned on its pivots 39 to swing the member 31 into different planes when the lever 35 is moved forwardly or rearwardly overthe diagram 37, the parts 33 and 10 constituting a gimb'al to permit the turning of the member 31 into the various planes as will be understood. The various parts are' so arranged that the member 31 will be always in a plane parallel with the reflector, while the ring 33 will be always parallel with the ring 6, and for maintaining the described relative arrangement .of' the parts I provide connecting means'between' the member 31 and the reflector, and between the ring 33 and the ring 6. Such connecting means may be of any suitable character, as for instance cables or wires 41 having flexible connections at their ends with the member 31' and reflector at diametrically opposite points, and cables or wires 42 having flexible connections at their ends with the ring 33' and ring 6 at points at right angles to those where the wires 41 are secured. A turn-buckle 45 is interposed in the length of each 'wire whereby to permit of any desired adjustment of such wirefor securing the proper relative position of the parts. It will be understood that the member 31 and reflector will be turned simultaneously, while the ring 33' and ring 6 will also be turned simultaneously, the parallelism of the parts being always maintained.

With a view of facilitating the operation of the apparatus and for indicating accurately to the operator stationed in rear of the board 25 the exact degree to which the reflector is to be turned for causing the point of light to move from any point on the scoreboard to any other point thereon, I provide the chart or diagram 37, over the upper face of which chart the pointer 36'is adapted to be moved. The chart or diagram comprises a plurality of lines, as 50, 51, 52, 53, 54,

the number and direction of which will depend upon the character of batted and thrown balls it is intended to indicate upon the score-board 25. For instance, when the lever 35 is moved to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, to cause thepointer to move from point 50 to point 51 along the line 50, the point of light will be reflected upon the board 25 and be shown as moving from the pitcher to the catcher to indicate a pitched ball, and when the lever is moved to the left'along said line from'point 51 to point 50 the ball will be indicated as being thrown by the catcher back to the pitcher. Also, when the pointer is moved from point 50 to the right along line 50 as far as point 6Q, and then along line 51 to point 52 it' Wlll indicate the ball as being pitched and] then batted to the left field. When the pointer is moved along the line 52 from point.

52" to point 50 it will indicate the ball as being thrown by the left fielder back to the pitcher. When the pointer is moved along line 53 from point 50 to point 53 it will indicate the ball as being thrown from the pitcher to the first baseman, and when the POlIltGI is'moved along line 54; from point 60 to point 54it will indicate the ball as being batted to the right field. In this manner it w1ll be readily understood that the ball may be indicated as being batted or thrown in a great many different directions, and the I operator, although stationed at the rear of the score-board, by noting the position of thGPOlIltGI will know to a certainty the exact point on the board where the light ap'- pears. The position of the points and lines of the chart or diagram are to be determined by experimenting with-the apparatus after it has been set up and the board 25 placed-in the desired position. I It will be seen that bythe described construction and arrangement of parts the lever 35 is supported in a universal manner at one end whereby said lever will be permitted to be moved in various directions to cause the pointer 36 to follow the lines of the diagram and thus effect the proper movement of the member 2 and the proper direction of the spot of light over the surface of the score-board.

Whenever it is desired to permit the point of light to be reflected onto the board 25 to of lever 21 which causes the shutter to uncover the aperture 13, and when the arm 22 is released the shutter again covers the ap-' erture, thus preventing the point of light- 1 from being reflected onto the board 25.

In Fig. 7 I illustrate a modified construction of the apparatus wherein I dispense.

with the use of a reflector and mount the light tube or projector so that the light will be thrown therefrom directly onto the scoreboard.

ally mounted upon a suitablesupport simi lar t o'j support 8 by means of pivots at diametrically opposite points at right anglesto the pivotal points of the diskf63. The disk 63 andringf65 are adapted to be operated in a manner similarto the reflector 2 and ring 6 of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 bythe means shown'in the last-mentioned figures; ,H The electric lamp maybe temporarilyv eX- tinguished during the operation of the apparatus byarranging a suitable switch convenient to the operator.

What I claim is Y c 1."In an apparatus of the character de scribed j the combination with a source of a tube and a lighting means a light comprising arranged within sa d tube, of a diaphragm arranged within the tube and having a m1- nute'apeiitur-ge through which the rays of light are adapted to: pas'sfa base-ball score-board arranged 'to'receive the said rays of light, a diagram, and means for causing the of light to move in various directions over the surface ot the said score-board embodying anfoperatinglever adapted to play over the saiddiagrain I 2. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with a diagram, of a source'of light, a' reflector arranged to reflect the light from said source, a support for the reflector, an operating lever adapted. to play over the said diagram, and connections between' said lever and said reflector whereby the latter may be turned into cliffercnt planes forthe purposes specified,

3. In an apparatus of the character described thecombination with a diagram, of a source of light, areflector arranged to reflect the lightfrom said source, a support for the reflector, an operating lever adapted to play over the said diagram, connections between said'lever and said reflector whereby the latter may be turned into different planes, and means for screening the light from the reflector. y

4. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with a diagram comprising indicating lines extending in different directions, of a source of light, a reflector arranged to reflect the light from said source, a support for the reflector, an operating lever adapted to play over the said diagram coincidently with said indi-,

cating lines, and'connections between said lever and said'reflector whereby the latter may be turned into diflerent planes. a

5. ln an apparatus of, the character described the combination with a source of rays vflector whereby the meats lightingmeans.

arranged within said tube, ,of a diaphragm arranged avithin theHtube and-havingv a mits pertu thr ug w ich. the are. adapted, to, pass, a baseball score-board arranged to. rece yethe said. rays vof lightv after passing through the,sa d aperture, a

diagram, and means for causing the light to vmove in various ,directionshover said.

score-board embodying an ,operating lever one end of ,WlllClLllZLSgfL un versal, support and the other end be ng adapted to play over the said diagram, c i

6.111 an v ap paratus of character de scribed th combination with a, diagram, of

a source of light, a support for the reflector,

a reflector arrangedto reflect the light from saidsource, an operating lever, adapted to play over, the .saiddiagram, connections between the lever vand the reflector whereby the latter may, be, turned into idiflerent planes, and a base ball score-,boardarranged to receive the light'reflected from the reflector. ,v v

7. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with,a diagram, of a sourceof light, a reflector arranged,to reflect the light from said, source, an operating leyer adapted to play over the diagram, connectionsbetween thelever and the relatter 7 may be turned into diflerent planes, a support for the reflector, and a base-ball score-board arranged intermediate the indicator and the, diagram andfadapted -to receive the light reflected from the latter. c ;V i

8. In an apparatus of the character described the combination witha diagram, of a source of light, a reflector arranged to reflect the light from said source, a support for the reflector, an operating lever adapted to play over the said diagram, and adjustable connections between the operating lever and the reflector. r

9. Inan apparatus of the character de scribed the combination with a diagram, of a source of light,a reflector arranged to reflect the light from said source, a gimbal upon which the reflector is mounted, an operating lever adapted to playv over said diagram, and connections between the said lever and the reflector whereby the latter may be turned into different planes.

10. In an apparatus of the character described the combination With a diagram, of a source of light, a reflector arranged to reflect the light from said source, an operating lever adapted to play over said diagram, a gimbal upon which the reflector is mounted, a disk-shaped member, a gimbal upon which the disk-shaped member is mounted, connections between, the latter-and the operatinglever whereby the disksshaped member may be turned into different planes, and

rays of li ghtv source, a support for the reflector, an opconnections between said member and the erating lever adapted to play over the said reflector and between one gimbal and the other. diagram, and connections between said lever copies of this patent may be obtained for and said reflector whereby the latter may be 15 turned into difl'erent planes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE. S. COLEMAN.

11. Inan apparatus of the character described the combination with a diagram, of a source of light comprising an electric lamp, an apertured diaphragm in front thereof, and a shutter adapted to cover and uncover the aperture in the diaphragm, means for operating said shutter, a reflector arranged to reflect the light from said Witnesses:

CHAS. E. RIORDEN, WM. E. BOULTER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

